December 5, 1382 (Azar 5, 1382) - Celebrities Came to Michael’s Defense

	Alicia Keys, the American singer (at the Vibe Awards): “I’m upset by the way the media is treating a man who has virtually had a major influence in American culture since his birth, and I truly think he deserves more respect than what is being expressed toward him right now. I hope this will end soon. I believe the truth will become clear.” Keys also said that the press conference on Wednesday, at which Tom Sneddon appeared with a cheerful face, bothered her. She said, “Why is the prosecutor smiling? This isn’t funny. This is about a person’s life, and I don’t think it should be brought down to the level of a joke. He’s far above that.”
	LL Cool J, the American rap singer (at the Vibe Awards):  “The media is incredibly powerful — unbelievably powerful. But in the end, evidence counts. Where is the evidence? I’m one of his fans. I support him trillions of times over. I won’t be convinced until there’s proof. I’m not a biased person. I mean, when they do something like announcing a three-million-dollar bail for him, it’s stupid — people are brought to court with 50 kilos of heroin and they don’t get three million dollars bail. Even killers don’t have three million dollars bail.”
	Missy Elliot, the American female rap singer (at the Vibe Awards): “He is my biggest inspiration, and that’s why I strongly defend him. I’m ready to fight for him.”
	Kevin Richardson from the Backstreet Boys: “Bad things happen one after another to him, and that’s shameful. I love him and I love his music.”
	P. Diddy (in an interview with Tesco.net): “With the way they treat my man, they follow him, they pursue him — the media, everything... it seems like the devil is really busy.”
	Kelly Osbourne (at the Vibe Awards): “I think the prosecutor showed a bit of inexperience in what he said and presented inappropriate remarks. He should have acted more professionally than that.”
	Monica (at the Vibe Awards): “You have to consider that every story has two sides, and I always say: who are we to judge? There is only one judge. His children, as children today and as future adults, will hear these things. This is the more unfair part of the case. I pray for both sides of this matter until the truth is made clear.”
	Steve Harvey the American comedian and radio show host: “This prosecutor has a blood feud with Michael because he couldn’t convict him ten years ago.”
	Rick James (in an interview with Tesco.net): “It’s clear that the accusations are lies — they’re not true. If Michael did commit a crime, it’s that he has the signs of Peter Pan in him — the same crime that I’m accused of... the crime that many people are accused of. We don’t want to grow up. We don’t want to get old. We love children.”
	Quincy Jones, the producer of three Michael albums: “I don’t know what to say. I don’t have enough information. I’m only praying for him, and I’m praying for everyone involved in this matter.”

 

	Billy Connolly, the Scottish actor (in an interview with ET Online): “To me it feels like a nightmare. I don’t know why they say that as long as your guilt isn’t proven, you’re innocent. My heart bleeds for him. They all call him guilty, but that doesn’t go down well with me personally.”
	Nicole Richie, the daughter of Lionel Richie the great American singer (at the Vibe Awards): “I grew up with him and spent a lot of time in Neverland, and nothing of any kind happened to me. You have to look at both sides of the issue. In my view, it’s very clear that all these matters coincided with the release of his album. I think this is completely obvious... For me, it’s very painful to see them ruining his entire life.”
	Rev. Jesse Jackson, one of the most prominent political activists: “These are serious allegations, but Michael deserves a fair trial in a court of law, not in the media. I strongly object to the investigative attack on his personal home, where a group in bulletproof clothing was present along with several doctors and an ambulance. This behavior is destructive. The special prosecutor’s conduct, who announced his arrest authorization by telling a joke, was completely inappropriate. Regardless of the outcome, there is no winner in this matter. In the end, I must say that the judicial process is Michael’s right, and the news media should be impartial, and the world community should not rush to judge.”

Barry Gordy, the founder of the music publishing company Motown (in an interview with ET Online): “I know that Michael is a good person. I hope that whatever the case is, the truth will come to light and his innocence will be proven.”

Debbie Allen (in an interview with ET Online): “I know his children. His behavior toward my children has also been exceptional. I’ve been around him with many children, and that’s why I really don’t know what this is all about. I just know that he will win.”

Emil Wibekin from the magazine Vibe: “Michael Jackson has been attacked for ten years or more. I think it’s very hard to become such a great artist and be at the top, and then see where they take you. I feel sorry for him because I think his musical genius and talent get lost among the accusations and disputes, but he is a person.”